Ditching-machine.



. No. 7|6,378. Patanted Doc. 23, I902.

G. CHAPMAN.

, nn'cuma MACHINE.

(Application filed 1m. 4, 1902.

(No Model.)

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OLEMENTINE CHAPMAN, OF DOLORES, COLORADO.

Dl'l'CHlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,378, dated December 23, 1902. Application filed March 4, 1902. erial No. 96,592. (No model.)

10 ct whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GLEMENTINE CHAPMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dolores, in the county of Montezuma and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching-Machines, of which the following is afull,clear,and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in ditching-machines, and,among other things,1 have in View the provision of a simple, compact, and cheap machine which is especially adapted to the work of cleaning out irrigating and drainage ditches, so as to restore them to a good condition for service; to provide means for cutting roots and the sod at the sides of the ditch; to provide for the elevation and discharge of the soil and excised material at the sides of the ditch, and to open the way for the penetration of the share at the bottom of the ditch.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination'of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification,

in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ditchingmachine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, parts being omitted. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section taken in the plane of the dotted line 3 3 in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. l is a detail plan view of the share removed from the lower end of the inclined chute. Fig. 5 is a vertical detail section taken centrally through the lower part of the chute and the share applied thereto.

In carrying my invention into practice I employ a suitable draft-frame,which is herein shown as consisting of the side bars 5 6, the transverse bar '7, and the arch 8, said side bars 5 6 of the draft-frame having the clevises 9 at their front ends whereby a suitable draft appliance may be connected to the machine-frame. The rear ends of the side bars 5 6 are inclined downwardly, as indicated at 10, and the side plates 11 12 are secured firmly to said inclined ends of the side bars, forming parts of the frame. The side plates diverge slightly from the side bars of the frame toward the rear end of the machine, as shown by Fig. 2, and these side plates are equipped at their rear extremities with the small carrying wheels or casters 13, the latter being preferably mounted on short stub-axles 14., which are secured to the lower rear corners of the side plates. The side plates are inclined upwardly and rearwardly at their front edges, as shown by Fig. 1, and these edges are beveled transversely, so as to form cutting edges, (indicated at 15,) whereby the side plates are adapted to trim the sides or banks of the ditch.

16 16 designate transverse arched supports, which are arranged one in rear of the other between the side plates and which have their end portions secured firmly to said side plates, as indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. These arched supports serve to sustain an inclined chute 17 in firm operative relation to the side plates 11 12 of the machine. The inclined chute is provided with a central ridge 18, adapted to form oppositelyinclined side portions for the chute, said side portions being inclined downwardly from the ridge 18 toward the side plates 11 12, as shown by Figs. 2 and 3. The upper rear portion of the chute is widened or expanded materially so as to form the laterally-extending wings 19, which are projected beyond the side plates 11 and 12, so as to overhang the same, and thereby afford proper means for the discharge of the soil. and the excised material upon the sides or banks of the ditch. The rear extremity of the inclined chutel? is turned upwardly on a line across thewings 19, so as to form the deflector 20, the latter being arranged in the path of the ascending material on the chute, so as to arrest the continued upward progress thereof and to assist in deflecting the material upon the Wings 19, which serve to discharge said material on the sides of the ditch. The inclined chute 17 is supported in the machine by anysuitable means-- such, for example, as the arched supports '16 1d and by attaching the side portions of the chute to the side plates 11 12.

21 designates the share, which is provided with a central ridge 22, so as to have oppositely-inclined side portions, the cross-sectional shape of this share conforming to the contour of the lower portion of the inclined chute 17. This share is provided with an angular cutting edge 23, having the V-shaped form shown more particularly by Fig. 4, and the side edges of the share are formed or provided With the flanges 25, the latter adapted to fit snugly between the side plates ll 12 or upturned side edges of the chute 17. The share is secured firmly to the chute by bolts or rivets, and its side flanges 25 may be attached firmly to the side plates 11 12 in a similar way.

A cutter-bar 26 may be secured firmly to the cross-brace 7 of the draft-frame, said outter-bar adapted to depend from the crossbar and arranged in the longitudinal plane of the crest on the share 21, whereby the cutter-bar is adapted to open a furrow in the bottom of the ditch, which allows the easy penetration of the share 21. The path is thus prepared for the share to cut out the material at the bottom of the ditch, and on the advancement of the machine this material is forced in an upward and rearward direction along the chute 17, the inclined sides of which chute serve to direct the material upon the Wings 19, that discharge said material upon the sides or banks of the ditch.

The side bars 5 6 of the draft-frame are provided with hangers 27,and in these hangers are individually mounted or journaled the rolling colters 28, the latter being arranged in advance of the cutting edges 15 on the side plates 11 12 and also disposed in the vertical plane of said side plates. These rolling colters serve to cut roots and the sod on the banks or sides of the ditch, and the excised material is adapted to lodge upon the inclined chute, thus making provision for the discharge of the soil raised by the share and the material cut away from the banks by the action of the rolling colters and the cutting edges on the side plates.

The machine is also equipped with handles 29, which may be attached to the side plates, and provide the means for steering 0r guiding the apparatus when it is used in-practice.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A ditch-cleaning machine, comprising a draft-frame, side plates carried by said draftframe and having cutting edges at the front portions thereof, and a rearwardly and upwardly inclined chute supported between said side plates and provided at its front end with a share, said chute arranged for a part of its rear end to overhang one of the side plates.

2. A ditch-cleaning machine, comprising a suitable draft-frame, side plates connected to said draft-frame and provided with cutting edges at their front ends, a rearwardly and upwardly inclined chute supported between the side plates and having a share at its lower end, the upper rear part of said chute having side Wings disposed in overhanging relation to the side plates, and rolling colters supported by the draft-frame on opposite sides of the share and in advance of the cutting edges of the side plates.

' 3. A ditch-cleaning machine, comprising a suitable draft-frame provided with hangers, side plates attached to said frame and extending rearwardly from said hangers, a rearwardly and upwardlyinclined chute supported by the frame and provided with a share, and rolling colters journaled in said hangers and lying on opposite sides of the share.

- In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GLEMENTINE CHAPMAN. 

